Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA)
The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is housed at the Eaton Conservation District and covers the entire state of Michigan. For more information, please visit http://www.miarbordayalliance.org/ or contact Sue Spagnuolo at (517) 543-1512x5 or sue.spagnuolo@macd.org
Who are we? The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion of Arbor Day throughout Michigan. Our dedication comes from our belief in the importance of trees and their role in community health and well-being.
Mission Statement: The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) promotes and facilitates Arbor Day through a progressive network for the stewardship of forestry and natural resources in Michigan's communities.
What Does MADA do?
Who are we? The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion of Arbor Day throughout Michigan. Our dedication comes from our belief in the importance of trees and their role in community health and well-being.
Mission Statement: The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA) promotes and facilitates Arbor Day through a progressive network for the stewardship of forestry and natural resources in Michigan's communities.
What Does MADA do?
- Provides free educational materials to individuals, communities, schools, and organizations
- Coordinates the state Arbor Day celebration in Lansing, MI
- Coordinates the Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest
- Seeks new partnerships to expand programming and make positive impact on local communities
- Furnishes ideas and suggestions about hosting Arbor Day events
- Contacts State legislators encouraging their participation in Arbor Day events in their district
- Creates and maintains statewide Arbor Day events directory
- Provides contacts to agencies/organizations that can offer Arbor Day Assistance
- Promotes Arbor Day and the importance of trees at seminars, workshops, tradeshows, & conferences
- Manages the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance Tree Planting Grant program
- We award monies to municipalities, non-profits, schools, churches, libraries, neighborhood associations, and local units of government to plant trees. This program is strictly funded by donations and our sponsors.
- Helps partners plan and facilitate tree plantings throughout the state of Michigan
Check out our 2020 Year in Review below!

2019_mada_year_in_review.pdf | |
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Benefits of trees
You may ask yourself what a tree can do for you, and the answer is simple: LOTS.
Trees can add value to your home, help cool your home and neighborhood, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs, and provide food for wildlife.
The following are some statistics on just how important trees are in a community setting:
Trees can add value to your home, help cool your home and neighborhood, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs, and provide food for wildlife.
The following are some statistics on just how important trees are in a community setting:
- The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. U.S. Department of Agriculture
- If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%. Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research.
- A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000. Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers
- Having large trees in yards along streets increases a home’s value from 3 percent to 15 percent. Wolf, Kathleen L, PhD, University of Washington (2007) City Trees and Property Values. Arborist News. 16, 4:34-36.
- In Portland, Oregon, street trees increase the value of homes by a total of $1.1 billion, an average increase of $7,020 for each house. Donovan, G.H.; Butry, D.T. (2010). Trees in the City: Valuing Street Trees in Portland, Oregon. Landscape and Urban Planning 94:77-83.
- Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent. Management Information Services/ICMA
- One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people. U.S. Department of Agriculture
- There are about 60– to 200-million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs. National Wildlife Federation
- Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20–50 percent in energy used for heating. USDA Forest Service
- Trees can be a stimulus to economic development, attracting new business and tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to shoppers, apartments rent more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent. The Arbor Day Foundation
- Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value. USDA Forest Service
- The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams. USDA Forest Service
- In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension. Dr. Roger S. Ulrich Texas A&M University
- Nationally, the 60 million street trees have an average value of $525 per tree. Management Information Services
- To help locate New York City’s heritage trees, the City Department of Parks and Recreation conducted a program called the “Great Tree Search.” New Yorkers looked for trees of unusual size and age, those linked with historic landmarks, and trees of unusual species or location. On Arbor Day, they held a big party to celebrate New York City’s Great Trees.
- After a tornado destroyed more than 800 trees in Cardington, Ohio, citizens organized a tree restoration committee which solicited donations and memorials. Volunteers who learned of the tree planting through local newspaper articles appeared on Arbor Day to wrap trunks, water, mulch, and stake 40 large trees which were planted along major streets.
Photos: 2019 State Arbor Day Celebration, MSU Federal Credit Union tree planting and Arbor Brewing Company tree planting